Centre has approved Rs 4,000 crore to make the food parks a lucrative space for industries and agri startups
The Central government has approved Rs. 4000 crore to be provided to Food Karnataka Limited for improving existing food parks and setting up new ones in Karnataka.
This is expected to encourage entrepreneurs to set up agri startups with production and other units in the food parks. The food parks can help reduce post- harvest losses and eliminate dependency on intermediary traders.
The best known among the food parks in Karnataka is the India Food Park at Tumkur which was set up with the assistance of the Ministry of Food Processing.
Six other parks at Hiriyur, Maddur, Jewargi, Belagavi, Malur and Bagalkote where agri-food processing operations were promoted have not take off because they have not been able to attract entrepreneurs and industries.
The agro-food sector has played the most important role in the essential services category during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and production and marketing activities have peaked under the agri-food category.
The agri startups are expected to generate revenue for the farmers who have been adversely affected by the lock down and provide them economic stability.